"Major banks have announced some 160,000 job cuts since early last year and with more lay-offs to come as the industry restructures, many will leave the shrinking sector for good as redundancies outpace new hires by roughly two-to-one."

"The Pentagon has told the Obama administration that any military effort to seize Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons would require upward of 75,000 troops, amid increasing concern that the militant group Hezbollah has set up small training camps close to some of the chemical weapons depots, according to senior American officials."

"As recently as three years ago, many thought that it was only a matter of time before solar thermal plants in North Africa supplied a significant portion of Europe's energy needs. But Desertec has hit a road block. Industrial backers are jumping ship, political will is tepid and a key pilot project has suddenly stalled."

A debt jubilee is fine, but it won't make a difference in the long run unless the economy is restructured. Our current system involves growth through steady debt expansion, so unless that system is changed, debt will just pile up again because expensive energy hinders debt repayment. I'm pleased to see that the article touches on this reality. -- RF

"Japan's lawmakers have approved a crucial bill that will ensure that the government does not run out of money at the end of this month. It will allow the government to borrow additional money by selling bonds to pay for a large chunk of its expenses."

This doesn't avert anything. It just puts off the inevitable by kicking the can. -- RF

"A rising number of law enforcement officers are required to wear body armor after two consecutive years in which police were being killed by gunfire with increasing frequency, a new Justice Department study has found."